MELA HAWN XI MANIKOMJU?

The play text for Alfred Buttigieg’s upcoming play, Mela Hawn Xi Manikomju?, will be published on the night of its theatrical debut at St James Cavalier.

The publication by Klabb Kotba Maltin will be part of the author’s on-going commitment to have more original Maltese theatrical productions available as texts for local readers.

“There is no doubt that there is a shortage of Maltese play texts available for the average reader,” explains Alfred Buttigieg, whose past works include local classics such as Ir-Rewwixta tal-Qassisin and Ippermettili Nitlaq.

“This is quite a shame, as while people are getting more novels in our mother tongue, our theatrical legacy is not being built upon or celebrated, and it’s not making its way into people’s daily lives, either. In fact, that’s why I always publish the text for people to indulge in at their own pace and in their own time.”

Priced at €5, the play text’s print run will be limited to just 150 copies, and will be available from St James Cavalier before each performance as of the 4th March, and also from Klabb Kotba Maltin.

The play tells the story of four elderly women dealing with life in a retirement home. “Each of them has a past, and each of them sees the future differently, but society and time have brought them together in a place they really don’t want to be,” Mr Buttigieg adds.

The play will feature renowned names such as Lee-N Abela, Lilian Pace, Ninette Micallef and Theresa Gauci in the leading roles, as well as Roberta Briffa, Andre Mangion and Charles Sammut. The stellar cast will be under the direction of Tyrone Grima, who is known for his work in Bariona (2010), Bwani (2013) and Children of a Lesser God (2015), to mention a few.

Mela Hawn Xi Manikomju? will be performed at St James Cavalier on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 11th, 12th and 13th March at 8pm. Tickets are priced at €15 and can be booked from the Kreattivita website or call on 2122 3200.

This play is certified 18+ and is being supported by the Malta Arts Fund.